Conservation

CONSERVATION AT ODZALA-KOKOUA NATIONAL PARK

Near the border, between Congo and Gabon, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, or simply Odzala as it is often referred to, was officially proclaimed in 1935, making it one of the oldest national parks in Africa. The 13,546km2 of land, now protected by African Parks, is part of the TRIDOM Transfrontier Park which extends from the Congo into Gabon and the Central African Republic. Within this are some of the last chunks of contiguous rainforest ecosystems that are large enough to support viable populations of the Congo’s larger mammals.

Odzala is part of the vast Congo Basin that spans six countries and contains about a quarter of the world’s rainforest. It’s certainly no exaggeration to regard it as vital for maintaining the health of the whole planet’s atmosphere. The centre of this area rates among the least disturbed or developed parts of Africa.